Thousands protest overtourism in Palma de Mallorca, demand policy changes
Date
7/22/2024 8:47:51 AM
(MENAFN) Approximately 20,000 people took to the streets of Palma de Mallorca to protest against overtourism, calling for a shift in tourism policies that they argue are detrimental to the Spanish Mediterranean island. The demonstrators, organized by around 80 civil society groups and organizations, marched through the tourist city under a banner that read, "Let's change course and set limits on tourism." They chanted in unison and waved colorful banners and flags, expressing their frustration with the current tourism model.
Campaigners argue that the existing tourism model is straining public services to the breaking point, depleting natural resources, and making housing increasingly unaffordable for local residents. Signs carried by protesters conveyed their grievances, with one in English stating, "Your well-being, our misery," and another criticizing the influx of foreign staff moving to the island to work remotely. A particularly pointed banner read, "This is not tourism phobia, these are numbers: 1,232,014 locals and 18 million tourists."
The protest comes in response to the record 17.8 million visitors the Balearic Islands attracted last year, a number expected to be even higher this year. Protesters emphasized that while tourism is a significant economic driver, its unchecked growth is causing significant social and environmental issues that must be addressed to protect the island's future.
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